European panel: Michel Ickx

MEET THE PANEL Name: Michel Ickx Age: 70 Lives: Montmorency, France Works: Telecommunications consultant The EU to me in 10 words or less: "Disenchanted with the EU due to bureaucracy and red tape"

For me the most important issue facing European leaders at the summit is how to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In my opinion the CAP is a monstrosity.

It is totally unacceptable and wasteful, especially in a world where hundreds of millions live below subsistence levels.

Together with the present stalemate over the budget and the rejection of the constitution in France and the Netherlands, these issues are responsible for the deep malaise among many European citizens. I am certainly one of them.

The budget impasse can only be resolved if both France and the UK accept a compromise on their individual demands.

One lesson learned from the French 'No' vote in this year's referendum is that the proposed European constitution was far too complicated.

It was the work of self-anointed European "experts" who are removed from the rest of their compatriots.

EUROPEAN PANEL: EU SUMMIT Viktorija Spurina Peter Langh Costa Ioannides Marcel De Vries Gerry Harris Michel Ickx

A proper public debate would have prevented this unhappy situation.

The fault lies both with the technocrats in Brussels and the governments of individual member states.

The same disenchantment with European institutions and mechanisms is present at national levels across Europe.

In our respective countries, we see people losing faith in their elected leaders. The recent disturbances in France and the elections in Germany underline this.

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